Cyanoalkyl ethers of polyhydric alcohols



- (inclusive) hydroxyl groups Patented June '4, 1946 UNITED 'STATES'YPATEANT OFFICE CYANOALKYL mamas F romznynmc ALCOHOLS Herman A. Bruson, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to The Resinous Products 8: Chemical Company,

Philadelphia, Pa.,

No Drawing.

1941, Serial No.

374,60 plication October 24, 1

a corporation of Delaware Original application January 15,

3. Divided and this ap- 944, Serial No.

5 Claims. (01. 260-464) ed from a member of the aliphatic, arylaliphatic,

propylene, trimethylene, tetramethylene, penta-- methylene, hexamethylene, octamethylene or decamethylene glycols, 2,3-butylene glycol, 1,3-

or cycloaliphatic series, the chain of which may be interrupted by oxygen or sulfur, may be reacted in the presence of an alkaline condensing agent or catalyst with at least one molecular equivalent or an lip-unsaturated open chain nitrile to form a p-cyanoalkyl ether of the polyhydric alcohol. Depending upon the quantity of the unsaturated nitrile used, one or more p-cyanoallwl groups may be introduced. The unsaturatednitrile which can be used are acrylonitrile and a-methyl-acrylonitrile, compounds having the formula:

CHa=C (R) CN where R is hydrogen or a methyl group.

The condensation takes place readily at temperatures between about 0 C. and about 70 C. Since the reaction is exothermal, cooling at the start is often advantageous in order to prevent undesired polymerization. The quantity of alkal ne catalyst used is small, an amount corresponding to 0.5 to 2% on the weight of the polyhydric alcohol being suflicient. Sodium methylate has been found to be very eflective for the purpose, although sodium or potassium ethylate or metallic sodium or sodium oxide dissolved in the polyhydrie alcohol itself can be used as the catalyst. There may droxide, potassium hydroxide, lime, barium hydroxide, quaternary ammonium hydroxides, such as trimethyl benzyl ammonium hydroxide, etc., alkali metal amides or the like, The reaction may be carried out in the presence of an inert solvent or suspending agent, particularly in those cases where one of the components is a solid or is difiicultly soluble in the other reactant. For this purpose dioxane, benzene, toluene, dimethox tetraethylene glycol, water, etc., are useful.

Typical polyhydric alcohols of the aliphatic, arylaliphatic, or cycloaliphatic series which may be used are as follows:

Ethylene glycol, or

its homologues including butylene glycol, octadecane-diol, divlnyl glycol. dipropenyl glycol, glycerol, glyceryl-a-phenyl ether, glyceryl-a-methyl ether, trimethylol propane-1,1,1, butantriol-1,2,3, pentaglycerol, erythritol, pentaerythrite, mannitol, sorbitol, inositol, anhydroenneaheptite, diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, triethylene glycol, thiodiethylene glycol, thiotetraethylene glycol cyclohexanedlols, 1,2-dihydroxyethyl benzene, bis(p-hydroxyethoxy)benzene, xylylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, hexaethylene glycol, nonaethylene glycol, and the higher polyethylene 8 7- cols having molecular weights up to 4,000.

One or more oi above compounds can be etherified by a p-cyanoalkyl group to form usually well-defined compounds useiul in the plastic arts. These are also useful as intermediates 'in the preparation of polycarboxylic acids, esters, salts, amides, etc., which in turnare useful in diverse fields, including resins, pharmaceuticals, and insecticides. The following are examples illustrating this invention Example 1 NCCHzCI-IPW- HEHMHEHEN To 124 grams of anhydrous ethylene glycol, four grams of powdered sodium methylate was added. The mixture was stirred and warmed to -"l0 C. for about five minutes until a clear solution was obtained. The solution was cooled to 15 C. and stirred while 212 grams of acrylonitrile was added dropwise so that the temperature did not exceed 25 C. This required two and one-half hours. The mixture was then stirred at 25-28 C. for six hours to complete the reaction. It was mixed with 200 cc. of water, neutralized with dilute hydrochloric acid, and extracted-with 250 cc. of ethylene dichloride. The extract was distilled to recover the solvent, and the residual oil fractionally distilled in vacuo. The main fraction distilled under 2 mm. pressure at -156-166 C. (mostly 158 C./2 mm.) as a colorless oil with a yield of 280 grams and corresponded to bis(2- cyanoethoxy) ethane, a compound readily soluble in water or in benzene.

Example 2 NCCH2CI-IaO- H2CH(CH3) -O--CH2CH:CN

To a solution the hydroxyl, groups of the 01. ten grams of sodium methylprisms melting at 53-54 C. (b)

held between 18 toluene. The toluene extract was distilled to re- I cover the solvent, leaving a residual oil which was fractionated in vacuo. The desired bls(p-cyanoethoxy-) -propane-l,2 distilled between l60-l70 C./l-2 mm. (mostly at 165--168 C./2 mm.) as a colorless oil. The yield was 710 grams. I

Example 3 Nocmcnr-o-cn-cm-o-cmcmcn Re El To a solution or one gram or sodium methylate in 54 grams of 2,3-butylene glycol cooled to 0., there was added lonitrile while the mixture was stirred and maintained eta-temperature mixturewu then' stirred for six hours longer at -25 C. and poured. into 150 cc. or saturated sodium chloride solution. The oil which separated was distilled in vacuo. The desired. bis(fieyanoethoxy) butane-2.3 distilled over at 165- 175 C./2 mm. (mostly 170 C./2 mm.) as a colorless oil which slowly solidified to a waxy crystalline mass with a yield of 79 grams. Upon recrystallization .irom' alcohol-petroleum 1 ether (1 :1) mixture, the compound separated in stout To a solution or one gram of sodium methylate in 54 grams of 1,3-butylene glycol therewas added dropwise at -40 C. 63.6 grams of acrylonitrile during one hour and the mixture stirred for seven hours at 25". C. There was then added 25 'cc. oi'-water and'suflicient dilute hydrochloric acid to neutralize was then extracted the alkalinity. The product with 100 cc. of ethylene dioi dioxane, and 0.5

dlOpWi 63.6 gram of ac between 1020 C. The

- tilled at 220-230 C./l-2 mm. as

. ture heatedrto- 70" C. until clear.

chloride and the extract distilled in vacuo. The

bis(,e-cyanoethoxy) -butane-1,3 distilled at 170- 175 C./1 mm. as a. colorless oil with a yield 01' 80 amps.

Example 4 To a solution of two grams or sodium methylate in '26v grams or trimethylene glycol cooled to 20 C. there was added dropwise 106 grams of acrylonitrile while the mixture wa stirred. During this time, the temperature was held between 20 and-12 C. The mixture was then stirred for six and one-half hours at 25 0., poured into 100 cc. of water, neutralized with hydrochloric acid, and extracted -with 150 c'c. '01 ethylene dichloride. When the extract was distilled in vacuo, 159 grams of bis(fl-cyan'oethoxy) -propane-l,3 was obtained as a colorless liquid boiling at 165170 C./l-2 mm.. moderately Emmple S I iv cmmscm flsmflwo-cmcmcn To a solution of one gram of sodium methylate added dropwise 47 the mixture was soluble in cold water and readily soluble in benzene.

31.8 gramsoi acrylonitrile while the temperature was maintained between 4 which required one hour. The mixture was then with ayield oi! '74 grams.

, Example 6 NCCHaCHa-O-CI-M CH1) s-CH2-O-CHQCH2CN Fifty-two grams of decamethylene glycol, 50 cc. gram of sodium methylate were mixed and the mixture warniedto BOP- C. to give a clear solution which was cooled to 20 C., whereupon it became pasty. To this paste there was added dropwise during forty minutes with good stirring 20 and 25 C. The mixture was then stirred for six hours at 25 30 C., during which time the paste disappeared. The reaction product was poured into 150 cc. arated, was washed in vacuo. The product, corresponding incomposition to bis(p-cyanoethoxy) -decane-l,10 disa colorless oil.

of water and an. oil layer sepimcmcn To a solution of 57.2 grams of 1,12-dihydroxyoctadecane in 'cc.'oi' dioxane, 0.5mm oi powdered sodium methylate was'added The mixture was cooled to45 C. and 21.2-81'81118 oi acrylonitrile added dropwise during twenty minutes while the mixture was stirred and kept at a temperature oi 45-50' C. The mixture was then stirred at 4045? C. for five-and one-halt hours, cooled, neutralized with dilute hydrochloric acid, filtered,

and dried ati00 C. under reducedpressur'e. The

residue was dissolvedin ethylene dichloride, washed with water, and the ethylene dichloride layer evaporated to drynessat C. under reduced, pressure. The residual oil, weighing 69 grams, solidified to a responding formula.

hard, white, waxy solid, corby nitrogen analysis to Example 8 CHrOCH|CHrCN H-O:CH|CH|CN I m-o-om c-mqrr To grams of sodium methylate was dissolved 92 grams of pure glycerol at BOP-70 C. The soduced pressure after lution was cooled to 25 C. and stirred while 159 gra ns of acrylonitrile was added dropwise thereto during the course 01' two and one-hall hours, whilethe temperature was maintained at 25-30 C. by external cooling." thereatter for six hours at 25 C., then mixed with 100 cc. oi Water, nei1tralized with hydrochloric acid and extracted with cc. of ethylene dichloride. The extractwas distilled under rethe solvent was removed. The desired tris(p-cyanoethoxy)-propane-l,2,8

distilled over at 250-260 C. under l-2 mm. pressure as a pale yellow oil with a yield oi 188 grams.

mma 9 I o-cmcH-o-o'mcmcN m-o-omcmon with water, and thenidistilled and the mixthe above The mixture was stirred .w the filtrate evaporated under reduced pressure on a steam bath. The residual oil was washed with water and distilled in vacuo. The desired product came over between 235 and 250 C. at 1 mm. as a colorless oil in a yieldof BOgrams.

Example om-o-on.

n-o-cmomon m'o-cH,omoN

To a solution of two grams of sodium methylate in 106 grams oiglyceryl-a-methyl ether there was added dropwise with stirring and cooling to 25-40 C. 106 'gramsof acrylonltrile during the course of one hour. The mixture was then stirred for six and one-half hours at 25-30 C. to com-' plete the reaction. The product was mixed with 25 cc. of water, neutralized with 10% hydroehloric acid, and extracted with 100 .cc. of ethylene dichloride.

bis-(fl-cyanoethoxy) -1-methoxypropane as a colorless liquid boiling between- 190.and, 198. C. at

1-2mm. n a

.(b) In the same manner, ,a solution of one gram-of sodium methylate in 74' grams or glycm I g x H2CHz)4 eryl-a-n-butyl ether was reacted with 53' grams of acrylonitrile to yield 55 grams of 2,3-di(pcyanoethoxy) -1-n-,butoxypropane:

OHy-O-CHCHgCHgCHg' n-o-oraomon a 'Hr- H OHs N a colorless liquid boiling at 200 o./1 mm.

' "Examplefl NCCHaCI-Iz-O-CI-IzCWHrCHz-GCI-IziJHzCN To a mixture of '53 of diethylene glycol and two'grams of aqueous 50% sodium hydroxide Example 12 CH: CH! Nocmorrr-o-on-oHr-o-oHr-on o;cri;orhoN ate in 134 grams of dipropylene glycol there was i added 106 grams of acrylonitrile dropwise during one hour, 'while the solution was stirred and cooled. The temperature during the addition was between 25 and45'? C. The mixture was then stirred as 25 C. for l'l'hours, poured into 100 cc.

of water, neutralized with dilute hydrochloric Upon distillation of the extract in vacuo, there was obtained 131 grams of 2,3

solution cooled to 20 0. there was added drop 6 acid, and extracted with 100 cc. of ethylene chloride. -Upon,distilling the extract in vacuo,

the desired bisqi-cyanoethoxy)-2,2' -dipropyl ether distilledover at 185-195 C./1-2 as a colorless, water-soluble liquid with a yield of 1'25 grams.

7 Example 13 lonitrile. The temperature was held between 20 ethoiwethyl) ether the formula:

and 30 C..during the addition. which required one and one-half hours. The mixture was then stirred for sixteenhours at 25 C., diluted with 50 cc. of water, andneutralized with hydrochloric acid. The product was extracted by shale ing with ethylene dichloride and the extract distilled under. reduced pressure. bis( s-cyarioethoxyethyl) ether of ethylene glycol distilled over at 210-220 C./1-2 mm. asa pale yellowfwatensoluble liquid in a yield of 198 grams.

w (b) By using 194 grams of tetraethyilene glycol in placeof the triethylene glycol in the above procedure, there was obtained the bis( B-cyano-= of tetraethylene glycol having I (II-ECHr-O-CHzCI-Ia-O-CHzCHaCH It distilled wam o. 1-2 as a pale A yellow oil in a yield of 184 grams.

Example 14 O-CH2CH2-O-CH2CH2CN One gram of powdered sodium methylate was dissolved at 60-70 C. in 141 grams of hexaethylgo oirm 0-4 321 1401! mixture was stirred and maintained at a temperature of 20-'28 C. The mixture-was then To a solution of two grams ofsodium. methylstirred for seventeen hours at 25C., mixed with 25 cc.- of-water, neutralized with dilute hydrochloric acid, and extracted with 100. cc. of ethylene dichloride. The extract was dried-in high vacuo at C., giving a residue of an ambercolored oil in a yield of 181 grams. This residue was found by nitrogen analysis to correspond to the above formula (N found, 7.10%; theory, 7.22%).

' Example 15 0.5 gram of sodium methylate was dissolved at 70 C. ina solution of 200 cc. of dioxane and grams of polyethylene glycol,

. having a hydroxyl number of 49. (This substance is sold under the trademark Carbowax and is a waxy solid obtained from ethylene oxide. Its average molecular weight byhydroxyl number is 2290, a: being; therefore, 50.) The solution added dropwise with good stirring. The temperature during the addition remained at. 30 C.

The mixture was then stirred forflve hours at v 30 C. and at 40-50 C. for two hours. i It was then cooled, neutralized with dilute hydrochloric acid, filtered, and the flltrateevaporated invacuo The desired and distilled in vacuo.

fNcCmcnao-cmcHP-(Hmcm) a- It is readily soluble in water or benzene.

Example 16 Ncomcm-o-cHms-cmcm-o-cmm To a solution of two grams of sodium ethylate in 122 grams of thiodiethylene glycol,

' HOCHnWr-S-CHaCI-DOH cooled to 20 C. there was added dropwise 106 grams of acrylonitrile while the mixture was cooled and stirred. During the addition, which. required one hour, the temperature was maintained between 20 and 50 C. by external cooling. The mixture was then stirred for seven hours at 25 C., poured into 100 cc. of water, neutralized with hydrochloric acid, and taken up in 100 cc. of ethylene dichloride. The product was recovered from the ethylene dichloride layer by distillation in vacuo. The bis(p-cyanoethoxy)-diethyl sulfide distilled over at 220"-230 C./-1-2 mm. as a pale yellow oil in a' yield of 210.5 grams, or 92% of theory.

It is soluble in benzene, somewhat soluble in cold water, and insoluble in petroleum naphtha.

Example 17 To a solution of 0.6 gram of sodium methylate in 31.8 grams of diethylene glycol there was added 41 grams of methacrylonitriler The mixture was stirred for twenty-one hours at 25-30 C. and then was heated at 65-70 C. for five hours. It was cooled, neutralized with hydrochloric acid,

After a forerun of unchanged reactants had come over, th'main fraction distilled over between 150 and 175 C./2 mm.

fractionation, it yielded 19 grams of colorless oil boiling at 150-l55 C./1 mm, having the formula:

Example 18 (c) Noomcm-o-mo om-o-omor'nou c Noon,cn,-o-n,c cn, -o-omcmcN To a suspension of 40.8 grams of dry pentaerythrite (ground to pass a 100 mesh sieve) in 100 cc.

' of anhydrous dioxane there was added two grams of powdered sodium methylate. The mixture was Sixtythen added during five minutes and the mixture stirred for forty-eight hours at 25-30 C. It was then heated at 50-60 C. for eight hours, cooled, and filtered. The filtrate was heated in vacuo on a steam bath and evaporated to dryness. There was thus obtained 46 grams of an amber-colored syrup which was filtered to remove traces of polymer and pentaerythrite. The product contained by analysis 15.8% N, which agrees well with the value 16.09% calculated for tetra- (p-cyano-ethoxymethyl) -methane. product is readily soluble in dioxane.

. (b) Acrylonitrile (63.6 grams) was addedto a stirred mixture of 40.8 grams of pentaerythrite, 50 cc. of water, and two grams of sodium hydroxide The at 25 C. The mixture was then warmed and stirred for seven hours at 40-50 C. and allowed to stand for twenty-four hours at room temperature. The alkalinity was then neutralized with dilute hydrochloric acid (10% strength) and the oil layer separated. It was washed once with 300 v cc. of coldwater and then dried under reduced pressure at,90-95 C. The residual product was a colorless syrup weighing 83 grams; It was very soluble in acetone, chloroform, or methanol and appreciably soluble in water. Its analysis showed it to consist to the extent of at least 95% of tetra- (cyanoethoxymethyl) methane:

C (CHaOCI-IzCHzCN) 4 To a solution of 90 grams of isobutylene glycol and two grams of sodium methylate, there was 5 added during one hour, dropwise, 53 grams of C./1-2 mm, having the formula:

arcylonitrile while the mixture was stirred and maintained at a temperature between 23 and 35 C. This mixture was stirred for five and one-half hours at 25 0., then mixed with 25 cc. of water, neutralized with dilute hydrochloric acid, and extracted with cc. of ethylene dichloride. The extract was distilled under reduced pressure to give a yield of 102 grams of the desired p-cyanoethoxy-tertiary butanol, distilling at 126- 130 C./ 10 mm. as a colorless oil. It is readily soluble in water.

(17) In the same manner, 118 grams of Z-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, two grams of sodium methylate, and 53 grams of acrylonitrile yielded 100 grams of a colorless oil boiling at -120' on. on, cnhi h-cm-err-o-cmomorr Example 20 CHI-CHI cm-Hm-o-cmcmcN v To a solution of 36 grams of 1,2-dihydroxy-cyclohexane in 40 cc. of dioxane, 0.5 gram of powdered sodium methylate was added and the mixture heated to 60-70 C. until a clear solution formed. The mixture was then cooled to 35 0.,

and 33 grains of acrylonitrile added dropwise durtYieen 180 and 190 C. at 1 mm. as a colorless o Example 21 (a) Acrylonitrile (63.6 grams) was added to a solution consisting of 36.4 grams of mannitol, 100 cc. of water, and two grams of sodium hydroxide. The mixture was stirred at 40-50 C. for five hours, then cooled and neutralized with dilute'hydrochloric acid. The clear solution was evaporated to dryness in vacuo on a steam bath at 90-95 0., giving a residue weighing 100 grams. This was dissolved in ethylene dichloride and filtered to remove sodium chloride. The clear filtrate was then evaporated to dryness in vacuo on a steam bath to yield a product obtained as an almost colorless syrup, soluble in methanol or acetone, consisting essentially of the hexa- (cyanoethoxy) -hexane:

(b) Inositol in equivalent amount may be substituted for mannitol in the above example and reacted in the same manner to give a colorless syrup which consists essentially of hexa-(pcyanoethoxy) cyclohexane.

Example 22 C. there was added drop- 1O blue indicator with dilute hydrochloric acid. The solution was then evaporated on a steam bath in vacuo to remove water, filtered from salt, and the clear, colorless filtrate distilled in high vacuo. The desired bisqi-cyanoethoxy) -diethyl ether boiled at l-195 C./l-2 mm. as a colorless oil. It is very soluble in water. The yield was 98 grams, which corresponds to a 92% yield.

As is evident from the above, both monoand poly-substitution with cyanoethyl groups may be effected to produce compounds having ether and alcohol substituents. Of particular value,

for example for plasticizing protein materials,

such as casein, zein, and

glue, are compounds of the formula:

R1(OC2HACN) 15 of the formula:

Ri(OCaHACN)m wherein R1 is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group and m is an integer from three to six.

3. The ether, tris-(pcyanoethoxy)-propane. 4. The ether, tetra-(p-cyanoethoiwmethyl)- methane.

5. The ether, hexa-(p-cyanoethoxy) -hexane.

' HERMAN A. BRUSON. 

